Gas filter holding device



March 1969 T. ERNST-SCHRANER 3,432,999

GAS FILTER HOLDING DEVICE FIG.|

Filed Dec. 11, 1967 FIG.5

3 INVENTOR.

THEODOR ERNST SCHRANER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,432,999 GAS FILTER HOLDING DEVICE Theodor Ernst-Schraner, Wettingen, Switzerland, assignor to American Air Filter Company, Inc., Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 689,615 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Jan. 13, 1967,

477/67 U.S. Cl. 55-490 6 Claims Int. Cl. B01d 46/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention The present invention pertains to an improved apparatus for gas separation, and more particularly, to a new, useful, and unobvious unitary filter frame assembly.

One of the features of the present invention is to provide a filter medium retaining device in which gas filter mediums of various thickness can be held in a simple manner and easily exchanged for other filter mediums.

The apparatus of the present invention includes a unique feature wherein multi-indented racks are mounted on opposed inner faces of an encompassing side wall for selective settings of grid-like retaining panels at diiferent parallel spacings. Through the multi-indented construction of the racks, swingable retaining panels can easily be brought into various parallel positions with respect to each other so that gas filter mediums of various thick nesses can be installed into the frame. Advantageously, the racks mounted at various places on the frame can be of similar construction so that the swingable retaining panels can be articulated at will at two opposite ends of the encompassing side wall frame.

So that the gas filter medium to be placed in the frame will be held sealingly in the frame, one end of the frame presents expediently a flat contact surface. The grid-like panel fixed to the frame at such end can advantageously be inserted in slots at the base leg of the frame end, such end being provided with a U-shaped bent-off cross section.

It is to be understood that various other features of the present invention will become obvious to one skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth hereinafter.

Summary of the invention More particularly, the present invention provides a unitary gas filter assembly for filtering contaminant particles from a gaseous stream comprising: an encompassing, open-ended side wall frame member having an upstream dirty gas inlet end and a downstream clean gas outlet end to define a flow-through passage therebetween for the gaseous stream to be treated; filter means disposed in the open-ended side wall frame member to extend transverse the gaseous stream to be treated, a pair of spaced parallel grid-like retaining panels, each comprised of sets of spaced curved crossed rod members, the panels being disposed along opposite faces of the filter means to retain the filter means in gas treating position in the open-ended side wall frame member; and fastening means for the grid-like retaining panels to fasten the retaining panels to the open-ended side wall frame member, the fastening means including a pair of oppositely disposed indented rack means mounted in facing aligned relation on opposed wall portions of the encompassing side Wall frame member with the indentations thereof extending transverse the direction of gas flow in the flow passage so as to be in parallel spaced relationship successively between the dirty gas inlet and the clean gas outlet of the frame member to receive the opposed edges of at least one of the pair of grid-like retaining panels for removadbly securing such panel to the frame in one of several selected spaced parallel positions relative to the other panel.

It is to be understood that various changes can be made in the arrangement, form, and construction of the apparatus disclosed herein without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing which discloses one advantageous embodiment of the present invention:

FIGURE 1 discloses in perspective view a portion of the gas filter holding device;

FIGURE 2 discloses a section along line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 shows a plan view of the retaining panel swingably articulated in an enclosed side wall frame;

FIGURE 4 shows an enlarged section in a plane through a sheet metal plate providing a rack on the enclosed frame wall; and

FIGURE 5 shows a section in a plane through line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

As disclosed in the drawing, encompassing open-ended side wall frame member 2 is rectangular, advantageously square, and the width of side wall frame wall member 2 corresponds substantially to the greatest thickness of gas filter medium 1 to be used. Extending from side wall frame member 2 is an inwardly projecting contact surface 3 for gas filter medium 1. Surface 3 comprises part of bent-off portion 4 which is U-shaped in cross section to include a first leg extending inwardly toward the flow passage of encompassing side wall frame 2, a base leg extending along the flow passage, and a second leg extending outwardly parallel the first leg and away from the flow passage.

On two opposed portions of side wall frame 2, there are secured to the inner faces thereof the opposed and aligned shaped metal plates 6 by some suitable means such as spot welding. It is to be noted in FIGURE 4 of the drawing that such plates 6 are of W-shaped cross section, the W-shaped cross section form of each of the plates 6 serving a specific purpose as hereinafter described. Each of plates 6 includes a multiplicity of spaced parallel indentations and the plates are so mounted along the inner faces of wall 2 that the indentations in the plates extend transverse the direction of gas flow in the gas flow passage through frame 2. These indentations serve to receive the edges of grid-like retaining panel 7. In the embodiment of the drawing, four plates are disclosed, all four plates being constructed alike and having in the example five indentations 8 between six straps 9. Plates 6 are shaped from a flat sheet metal plate by punching longitudinal slots therein. The straps 9 which lie between the punched-out slots are pressed out of the plane of the plate with the slots being so arranged that the indentations formed between straps 9 are slightly narrower at their entrances or openings than the diameter of the rods forming grid-like retaining panel member 7 which engages with the indentations and slightly larger at their bases so as to receive the rods of panel 7 in snap-clamp engagement therewith. As can be seen in FIGURE 4, each plate 6 lies with two surfaces standing apart against frame wall 2. Between straps 9 in each case there is formed accordingly the undercut indentation 8 for the rod part 10 of retaining panel 7 as aforedescribed and described hereinafter.

As can be seen in FIGURE 1 of the drawing, bent-off part 10 of grid-like retaining panel 7 is clamped in one of the openings of an indentation 8 for swingable articulation of panel 7 in such indentation.

It is to be understood that panel 7 hinged on frame 2 and panel hereinafter described as having protrusions 13 which project into slots 11 of U-shaped bent-off part 4 are both comprised of sets of spaced and crossed individual rods welded to one another or soldered at the points of crossing. The rods of panels 7 and 5 are disclosed as being at right angles; however, it is to be understood that they can also be of other angles other than right angles. The panels 7 and 5 are detachably inserted into frame 2. To attach panel 5, there are arranged in the base of U-shaped bent-olf parts 4 at the end of frame wall 2 two openings 11 in each of a pair of opposite base Wall portions of frame 2. The other pair of opposite base wall portions of frame 2 can be provided only with one opening 11 in the middle of the base side in question (not shown in detail). Several rod protrusions 12 of panel 5 lie against the outside of frame 2. Altogether, six rod protrusions 13 of panel 5 are inserted through openings 11 into the U-shaped bent-off portion 4. The rods of panel 5 are thereby bent somewhat out of the plane of the panel and the rod protrusions of the panel are tensed elastically against one another. The panel 5 is thus elastically springly held unto frame wall 2 and can, through a spring bending, be released from the wall and taken thereoff.

The rods of panel 7 are connected with one another in a manner similar to the rods of panel 5;. however, panel 7, unlike panel 5, is provided at one side thereof with a how 14 (FIGURE 3) which is jointed by welding or soldering exclusively at the points 15, 16, and 17 with the other rods. Bow 14 can therefore be elastically resiliently deformed somewhat so that two points 19 extend beyond the rod 18 of the panel. By application of force at these two points, the bow 14 can be displaced elastically to the rod 18 of panel 7. Points 19 of panel 7 can in the process snap into place in one of indentations 8 of plate 6. Panel 7 is then unswingably secured to the side wall frame 2.

Depending on the thickness of the gas filter medium to be used, the fastening of panel 7 onto side wall frame 2 is accomplished by judicial use of one of indentations 8 of the four plates 6. After the setting of the gas filter medium 1 in frame 2 with the gas filter edges extending against the four flat walls of the frame, the swingable panel 7 is inserted in those indentations 8 of sheets 6 so that the unswing-able securing of panel 7 to the frame causes panel 7 to lie against gas filter medium 1. It is to be understood that the installation of the bent-off places of panel 7 into the proper indentations 8 of two plates 6 and also the insertion of points 19 of bows 14 into the corresponding indentations 8 of the other two plates 6, as well as installation of panel 5 in frame 2, can be simply carried out without any tools.

If, for example, two different gas filter layers are to be held with an interlying panel (not disclosed) in frame 2, then two swingable panels 7 can be attached to side wall frame 2. When the three panels then are unswingably secured to side wall frame 2, they lie parallel to one another, and for example, at various distances.

If several side wall frames 2 are to be arranged adjacent to one another in one plane, then these side wall frames 2 can be set by means of their U-shaped bent-off parts 4 on a common carrier bar or be thrust into two oppositely situated carrier bars.

Several side wall frames 2 lying in one plane may also be held in one plane by plates lying in the U-shaped bent-off parts 4 in the manner of interlock walls, all the side wall frames 2 then being additionally surrounded by a mounting frame which likewise engages in U-shaped bent-off parts 4. The whole unit, consisting of several side wall frames 2, can then be installed as one piece, for example, as a filter wall, into a masonry wall opening.

By each plate 6 secured to side wall frame 2, two grooves 21 are formed (FIGURE 4). In these grooves there can be secured clamps (not shown) for additional filter layers, or, for example, a supporting bracket for filter bags (not shown). A fastening of these additional means to the frame can also be carried out by installing of cross pieces (straps) in the interspaces 22 of the plates 6 if the bent-off parts 10 and the points 19 of the rods of grating 7 permit (FIGURE 4).

The invention claimed is:

1. A unitary gas filter assembly for filtering contaminant particles from a gaseous stream comprising: an encompassing open-ended side wall frame member having an upstream dirty gas inlet end and a downstream clean gas outlet end to define a flow-through passage therebetween for the gaseous stream to be treated; filter means disposed in said open-ended side wall frame member to extend transverse the gaseous stream to be treated; a pair of spaced parallel grid-like retaining panels each comprised of sets of spaced crossed rod members disposed along opposite faces of said filter means to retain said filter means in gas treating position in said open-ended side wall frame member; and fastening means for said grid-like retaining panels to fasten said retaining panels to said open-ended side wall frame member, said fastening means including a pair of oppositely disposed indented rack means mounted in facing aligned relation on opposed wall portions of said encompassing side wall frame member with each of the indentations thereof extending in a direction transverse the direction of gas flow in said flow passage so as to be in parallel spaced relationship successively between said dirty gas inlet and said clean gas outlet of said frame member to receive the opposed edges of at least one of said pair of grid-like retaining panels for removably securing said one panel to said frame in one of several selective spaced parallel positions relative to the other.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the material surrounding said indentations of said rack means being resilient, said indentations of said rack means being slightly narrower at the openings than the diameter of said rods of said grid-like retaining panel member and slightly larger at their bases to receive said rods of said grid-like panel in snap-clamp engagement therewith.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, said rack means havin a W-shaped cross section in a plane taken in a direction transverse the direction of gas flow to provide coupling slots between itself and said encompassing frame wall on which it is mounted.

4. The apparatus of caim 1, at least one grid-like retaining panel including an elastically resilient bow-like side portion with apex means of said bow-like portion being positioned to resiliently engage in the indentations of said rack means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the other of sald grid like retaining panels having spaced rod end protrusions,

said encompassing side wall frame member being bent along at least a portion of one end thereof to form an end of U-shapedcross section including a first leg extending inwardly toward said flow passage, a base leg extending along said flow passage, and a second leg extending outwardly away from said fiow passage, said base leg having slot means therein to receive said protrusions of said other grid-like retaining panel to hold said panel in position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, said encompassing side wall frame member being bent around the entire peripheral end thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner. 10 BERNARD NOZICK, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

